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Who is CISA?

Who is CISA?

Hear about what we do from local farmers and people we work with every day!

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Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy.

CISA has been working for over 30 years to build a stronger, more resilient, and more just local food system. We envision a local food system where farms are viable, working conditions are fair and just for owners and workers, the environment is respected, and locally grown food is available for all.

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What’s Happening

Food Security and Youth Leadership Development through Soil Health, Food Preservation and Culturally Relevant Crops

November 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
What does it take to create food security in your local community? Over the last 8 years, the Tapley Youth Agricultural Scientists (YAS!) have been building soil health, cultivating culturally... more
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Climate-Smart Farming and Marketing Program Informational Webinar/ Seminarios Virtuales Informativos sobre el Programa de Agricultura y Promoción Climáticamente Inteligentes

November 13 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Register here! Date: November 13 at 7:00 PM Join us on November 13th for an overview of the Climate-Smart Farming & Marketing Program, led by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. Northeast regional project... more
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Transitioning to Organic – Compost Production for Organic Farms, Bed Prep, Soil Test Report Analysis and Recommendations

November 17 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
This workshop and gathering is for farmers interested in producing compost for on-farm use and those who want to explore the process for gaining approval to sell their compost as... more
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Selecting Heat Tolerant Crops and Seed Varieties

November 20 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Register here! This workshop will provide farmers and technical service providers with guidance on the selection of heat tolerant crop varieties and crop planting schedules adapted to climate trends and... more
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Family Fun Day: Santa Comes to the Farm

November 29 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Visit Austin Brothers Valley Farm on Friday, November 29th from 9am-3pm. Santa will be at the farm store with fun activities for kids like: Photos with Santa Mail letters to... more
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Soil Management for Climate Resilience 

December 3 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Register here! In this webinar, Caro Roszell of American Farmland Trust will discuss the impact and associated risks of increasing year-round temperatures and extreme heat on soil moisture, nutrient levels,... more
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How to Welcome Visitors and Increase Sales

December 9 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Register here! How can on-farm experiences like tours, festivals, educational workshops, farm stays, or other events help your farm profitability? CISA, Lisa Chase from UVM, and Russell and Alane from... more
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Cultivating Culture - A Gathering of Jewish Farmers

December 12, 2024 @ 3:00 pm - December 15, 2025 @ 10:00 am
Are you a Jewish farmer, rancher, homesteader, or food systems professional? We'd love to have you at our upcoming conference! We've done away with the application process and registration is... more
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Get the Latest News From CISA

Valley Bounty: Celebrating Farm to School Month with Home Grown Springfield

As National Farm to School Month unfolds during October, the Connecticut River Valley perfectly displays this idea in action. Nationally observed since 2010, the month highlights the collaboration between farms ... more
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Valley Bounty: Rustic Outlook

When Heather McCann founded her farm, Rustic Outlook, in 2020, she picked a niche that few local farmers have chosen. She decided to make beans her thing. Even as Rustic ... more
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NEPM: Ben & Meg's Farm & Garden Store

– Ben and Meg’s Farm and Garden Store is new in South Hadley, and they have what you need for decorating your front porch or planting out your garden with ... more
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NEPM: Preservation Orchard & Farm

_ Claire takes Monte and Kaliis to meet Ava Blum-Carr of Preservation Orchard and Farm and her mom, Nicole Blum of Carr’s Ciderhouse, to talk about: Sharing land between their ... more
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Valley Bounty: Creativity and Community Bear Fruit at Apex Orchards

September 21, 2024    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Uncategorized One, Press Room
School is back in session, with the emblematic apple in season at local orchards. The Shelburne Falls orchard grows fruit for sale at their farm store and is available as ... more
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Climate Change Hits Home: Not all Farmworkers Feel the Heat Equally

Published September 21, 2024 in the Daily Hampshire Gazette Farm risks rise with heat By Jacob Nelson Imagine this: It’s 10 a.m. and already near 90 degrees. The hot sun ... more
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Recorder: State climate chief hears from area farmers on putting climate-resilient methods into practice

September 17, 2024    Posted in: CISA News, Press Room
The state’s first-ever climate chief toured Atlas Farm in Deerfield and Big River Chestnuts in Sunderland alongside legislators, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources officials and representatives from Community Involved in ... more
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Climate Change Hits Home: Hampshire College Farm's Grassroots Research and Resilience

As college and university farms go, Hampshire College Farm is not a big one. What they do have in abundance is student energy, and true to the Hampshire philosophy, they’ve ... more
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NEPM: Climate Week and UMass Dining

🌎 Stephen Taranto, CISA’s climate program manager, and Kathy Wicks, director of sustainability for UMass Amherst Dining and Auxiliary Services, join Monte and Kaliis to discuss:  CISA’s Climate Change and ... more
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Climate Change Hits Home: Adapting Together with Stonebrige Farm and Keshtyar Seed

Published September 7, 2024 in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Climate Change at Home: Adapting Together Local support and federal funding help farms respond to climate change By Jacob Nelson Three ... more
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Featured Local Hero Profile

Be a Local Hero

Local Hero Profile: Bloom Woolen Yarns

October 18, 2023    Posted in: Specialty Producer Profiles, Local Hero Profiles
Local Hero Profile by Julia Mazzuchi, Local Hero Program Assistant  The buy local movement in the Valley not only encompasses... more
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